Why was Mitchell Leisen known as a woman's director?

Mitchell Leisen was considered a "woman's director" primarily due to the distinct affinity he demonstrated for his actresses. His motion pictures, which were produced largely at Paramount, were frequently dominated by strong female leads.1

In these films, the women were placed front and centre, and their personal stories served as the primary narrative focus. These actresses, including Barbara Stanwyck, Paulette Goddard, Olivia de Havilland, Claudette Colbert, and Carole Lombard, were rarely paired with male actors of equal stature or presence, ensuring that the female characters remained the driving force of the work.1